A day food plan

[Seren]

Hey everybody, I just have a question. I want to really get stuck into the raw lifestyle, and I want to lose a few pounds quickly, as well as obviously getting the other health benefits such as detoxing. Is it advisable to have not so much fruit during the first couple of weeks?

I was thinking, a juice in the morning, a green smoothie for lunch and a salad in the evening? What do you think? Maybe I shouldn't have so many fats to start off with, especially as I don't feel the need for them at the moment. But when I have less fats I get bumps on the back of my arms!!

Any input would be greatly appreciated!!!

TIA!!

Seren xXx

[berrymarymac]

I find that too little to eat!! Like today for breakfast and lunch, I had 4 bananas, a bowl of watermelon and cantelope along with a Lara bar. For dinner it's about the same, sometimes a smoothie and a dessert. But I will munch through the day, consume maybe 1 tomato, an avocado and 8 bananas if I'm lucky! Along with more melon and other fruits. Along with a handleful of nuts. Sometimes I'll have a salad, but I'm on a fruit kick now! I eat until I'm satisfied.

[lavendarJ]

Happy Sunday!

This is only day 13 of consistent raw for me so I am not going to be an expert here. With the greatest factor being income, I am starting out with raw in its simplest form possible - that just means fresh fruits and veggies (my slurge was on the raw cashews & peanuts). I am also enjoying more and more avocados which I already ate anyway. I think your plan sounds great. It really is about what is comfortable for you. I was really worried about eating the healthy fats; that word "fat" just creeps me out. Others who are more experienced have posted about eating all the nuts and avocados they want while maintaining healthy weight or losing it, depending on their goals. I took a big risk and just decided I am not going to measure anything unless it gets way out of hand. In fact, when I weighed myself last week on day 6, I had lost 8 pounds. That gave me confidence to continue eating healthy foods and not get too worried about exact measurements and portions and fat control.

[Seren]

Oh right, thats great, thanks :) I know it's different for different people. I will probably eat more than that, I think they would just be the definite things I would have planned, then snacking on top of that, on .... well that's another question I guess! I've read that when people want to put on weight they eat more fruit... so does that mean it would be harder to lose weight while eating lots of fruit? Should I start off snacking more on veggies?

TIA

Seren xXx

[berrymarymac]

Oh right, thats great, thanks :) I know it's different for different people. I will probably eat more than that, I think they would just be the definite things I would have planned, then snacking on top of that, on .... well that's another question I guess! I've read that when people want to put on weight they eat more fruit... so does that mean it would be harder to lose weight while eating lots of fruit? Should I start off snacking more on veggies?

TIA

Seren xXx

I've lost 15 pounds so far on raw...one month with a LOT of mistakes!! I eat as much fruit as I want and seen to be losing weight! I ate the entire thing of Rawkinlocs peach cobbler the other day and the next day...I had lost more weight! So I guess it's different for everyone?

[Seren]

Hmm it certainly seems so... I think I'll go with your advice and not worry about the amount of fruit I eat, just make sure I eat all raw. Thanks so much for everybodys input! :D

Seren xXx

[aromaticwings]

Seren,
do you have Alissa's book? She explains all this in the book. Generally speaking If it is truely raw and not pesticide ridden it will be ok to eat whatever you want.. as long as it is raw.. But then my thinking is.. and it is no expert either.. is that if you have fat to lose and fat in the blood then it would be best to be low in the fat department even in the good fats. Your brain needs some fat to exist..so make sure the fats you do have are the best and most usedfull for your body. Your body will adjust in time if you stick with it.
Just go to nutridiary.com and enter in what you eat in a days time for a few days to get a general of what is needed. or what the break down is for a meal.. has helped me some..
I find that eating more greens and green juices gives me the greens plus a fruit here and there for the calories.. remember too that fruit is not JUST apples and oranges and bananas.. It is also what some consider to be veggies.. like tomatoes, cucumbers and things that come from a flower..

Hope this helps some. Dr Grahm has some good ideas also on his website.
http://www.doctorgraham.cc/ :D

[Sharon in Colorado]

I think your idea is fantastic for the first 3-5 days, because those are the most challenging and when folks are more likely to slip up.

Give yourself 2-3 choices for each meal and decide which snacks in-between meals you can have. Be sure to give yourself enough alternatives just in case you aren't feeling like eating one or the other.

After the 5 days are up, you'll be all raw so you can give yourself more leway as to what kind of raw meals to eat.

Example:

meal 1 - melon or berries or smoothie (until full)
meal 2 - bananas or mangoes or salad (until full)
snack - dates or apples/almond butter or baby carrots (until full)
meal 3 - oranges w/ salad or pears w/crudites & guacamole (until full)
snack - banana ice cream or fruit pudding (until full)

look at all the choices you can give yourself. You can even switch meals around, but as long as you eat from the list. That way there's no deviating.

[Pierre]

Fruit is what we are designed to eat, so we should eat a lot of it!

As to fat, to detox fat-soluble junk, you need to eat good fat. You can find it in fatty fruits (such as avocado and olive) and nuts.

I do not limit the quantities I eat. I make sure to eat at least 640 grams of salad (lettuce, tomato, cabbage, olives, avocado, etc.) unless I'm low on an ingredient and can't make 640. I also bring fruit to work. And I am losing weight - I'm down to 75 kg, from 81 when I started.

[whitelotus]

Basically, in my opinion, I think it's best to not have a set schedule of food items that you're going to eat everyday. What works for me, is to un-cook all day Sunday and just prepare a lot of foods so that during the week, I have a lot to choose from. Some days I'm starving and literally can't stop eating, like today, and other days it's pretty minimal. Go with what your body tells you and you'll do GREAT!
Good Luck!!!
Kelly

[chilove]

There is no reason to avoid fruit!! As Pierre said, fruit (along with lesser amounts of veggies and nuts and seeds) is our natural food! Eat as much of it as you like, it will help keep you satisfied emotionally and physically. Smoothies are especially filling and satisfying for a lot of people who are starting a raw diet.

Best of luck to you!!!

Audrey
www.rawhealing.com

[veeg]

I find fruit, especially juicy stuff like watermelon, to be the best when I want to detox.

Besides, it's yummy.

I have a theory (which I suspect has been mentioned here by other rawfoodies), that stuff that tastes best in its unadulterated state is what we should be eating. That's why nature, in its infinite wisdom, made it taste so good -- so we'd eat it until we're satisfied. Over time, we've strayed from this concept. We use condiments to mask the taste of foods which we've cooked beyond recognition :eek: The corporate fast food industry has done a pretty effective job of brainwashing most westerners in this regard. (Does it sound like I'm ranting? :D )

One of the beauties of a raw lifestyle is that you'll ultimately be so in touch with your body and nature that you'll naturally crave what's good for you. :p

Peace